Bill-file.



No. 669,246. I Patanted Mar. 5, I90l. v W. M. PEARSE, .IR.

BILL FILE.

[Application filed July 12, 1900.

(No Medal.) v z Sheets-Sheet I 9 amw.

No. 669,246. Y Patented Mar. 5, I90I. W. M. PEARSE, 1R. BILL FILE.

(Application filed July 12, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

PATENT Fr es.

\VILLIAM M. PEARSE, JR., OF ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

BILL-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,246, dated March 5, 1901. Application filed July 12,1900. Serial No. 23.404. (no model.)

To (tZZ whom, iv may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. 'PEARSE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Zanesville, in the county of Muskingum and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bill-Files, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to bill-files ot' the class in which an impaling rod or wire is used to secure the bills or documents in the file.

The object of my invention is to provide adevice of this character which is simple in construction, efiicient in operation, and will occupy the minimum amount of space at all times.

Other points of ad vantage in my file are the impaling-pinsinstead of abuttingone another (it one inside the other, thereby making it impossible to spill some of the papers in handling the file and also rendering it possible to transfer bills from the lower impaling-tube to the upper pin without tearing them and reversely. This arrangen'ient precludes the danger of the file accidentallyopeningin handling. All of these advantages are accomplished by a simple and novel construction to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings which accompany this specification and of which they form a part, Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved file open. Fig. 2 1s a transverse section of the same closed. Fig. 3 is a detail of the hinge. Fig. t is a back view of the hinge. Fig. 5 is a perspective of a fragment of the back of the file, showing hinge-seat. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of the impaling-tube. Fig. 7is a transverse section of the impaling-pin.

Like numerals of reference denote like parts wherever they occur in the drawings.

My device consists, essentially, of three parts-a lower frame, an upper frame, and a hinge. The lower frame consists of a bottom member 1, which is strengthened by the addition of cleats 2, and a side member 3. I may do away with the use of cleats 2 by using a thicker bottom member 1. The side member 3 forms the back of the file and is slightly shorter than the bottom 1, which extends bevond it at 4 for a purpose to appear herein after. The back 3 is grooved at 5, 6, and 7 to accommodate the hinge, as will be fully set forth. Secured in the bottom member 1 is an impaling-tube 8. This tube 8 is segmental, being out by slots 8 throughout its length,

and is rounded on the end and edges to prevent the papers from beiuginjured when being placed thereon. The top frame consists of the top 9 and guard-blocks 10, which fit the spaces 4. An impaling-pin 11 is secured in the top 9 and corresponds with the impalingtube 8, within which it The pin l1 is triangular in cross-section, the corners 11 fit the slots 8, and it is provided with a point 11 The corners 11 are rounded to keep them from cutting the papers. The segmental form of the tube permits this pin to be of a size equal to the tube. The blocks 10 keep the papers filed on the pin 11 when the file is open from turning about this pin and be-, coming deranged. The hinge is composed of two straps 12 and 13. The upper strap 12 is fastened on the top 9 by screws 12*; but I may form this strap integral wit h the top piece 9. The whole hinge is fitted to slide in guides 14., seated in the grooves 5, and fits the grooves 6. The hinge-joints are undercut at 15 to fit the guides 141, and these guides are cut away at 16 to permit the hinge to be opened after it has been raised up, with the joint opposite the cut-out places 16. Each strap of the hinge is provided with a guide strip 12 and 13 respectively, which fit the groove 7, and these hold the hinge from wabbling. They also serve as stops to limit. the forward movement of the hinge when the top is closed, since the ends 12and 13 will then clash. The stud 17 is mounted on the strip 13 and in combination with a second stud 17, seated in the bottom of the groove 7, limits the movement of the hinge in the guides 14. Thesestuds are positioned so that the hinge maybe raised just high enough to permit it to be operatedthat is, with the joint opposite the cut-out portion 16. This combination of the hinge and guides makes it possible to expand the file to add additional papers and at the same time prevents it from being opened until the hinge has been raised to the proper position. The hinge is also kept from sliding down again while the top remains thrown back, for the undercut 15 is carried around by the rotation of the hinge on its axis and the back of the hinge abuts the guides 14 and 16.

The combination of the segmental impaling-tube and the triangular impaling-pin renders it possible to transfer papers from tube to pin and reversely without tearing them, for the pins are as large as the tubes. It also prevents them from slipping out or from being accidentally spilled and also keeps the hinge from being strained. I fit my files with the usual marginal indexcards shown in the drawings, the use of which needs no explanation.

In using my file the place where it is to be opened is first ascertained by the marginal index and the documents part-ed at this point, the upper Ones being shifted up on the impaling-pin. The file can now be expanded and opened out by raising the top and sliding the hinge in its guides until the studs con tact.

'lhe file can now be opened and the documents can be examined at leisure, others inserted, or some removed. In closing the file the hinge is first closed, the im paling'pin then inserted in the impaling-tube, and the top lowered.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A hill-file consisting of a top member, a lower section, guides mounted on said lower section, and a hinge secured to said top member and mounted to slide in said guides,

2. A bill-file consisting of a top member, a back member, guides mounted on said back member, a hinge one strap of which is secured to said top member, and mounted to slide in said guides, a first stud secured to the otherstrap ofsaid hinge, asecond stud mounted in said back member and positioned to contact. with said first stud to'limit the movement of said hinge in said guides, and a bottom member secured at right angles to said back member.

3. A bill-file consisting of a top section, a bottom section provided with parallel guides, a hinge, one strap of which is secured to said top section, and which is mounted to slide in said parallel guides, said guides being cutout at the top to permit said hinge to be operated after being raised to a point with its joint opposite said .(-ut-ont places, and stops positioned to limit the movement of said hinge in said guides.

4. In a bill-file the combination of a segmental impaling-tube, and an angular impaling-pin, said pin being so proportioned that. it can be inserted into said segmental tube with each of its angular edges fitting into one of the slots in said tube.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two sultscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM M. PEARSE, JR.

VVit-nesses:

FRANK C. HAAs, ANTHONY EIOHSTAEDT. 

